Cherry blossoms

Cherry blossoms begin to bloom at the Martin Luther King Jr. National Memorial on the Tidal Basin in Washington, Monday, March 19, 2012. Charles Dharapak/AP

With the Jefferson Memorial in the background, cherry blossoms bloom along the Tidal Basin in Washington, Monday, March 19. Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP

Khandan Jahanshani of Iran, enjoys the blooming cherry blossom trees among some of the oldest centennial trees along the tidal basin in Washington, Monday, March 19. Jacquelyn Martin/AP

People enjoy the cherry blossoms on the Tidal Basin during the first bloom of the trees in Washington, March 18. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the gift from Japan to the United States. Gary Cameron/Reuters

A cherry blossom bud is seen on a cherry tree that borders the Tidal Basin on March 22, 2011, in Washington. The date when the cherry blossoms reach their peak bloom varies from year to year, depending on the weather. The cherry trees have yet to hit their blooming peak. Carolyn Kaster/AP

Thoreau’s suggestion that Congress might be improved by a greater awareness of the natural world was a serious one. Being outdoors this first day of spring should remind leaders and voters of a calendar beyond the election cycle – and a web of connections that transcends party.

On this first day of spring, as another cherry blossom season arrives in Washington, I find myself thinking of Henry David Thoreau, who once wryly observed that “much more is adoing” in the world than Congress knows about.